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Meningococcal is a severe bacterial infection that can cause meningitis, bloodstream infection, and other localized infections. Although the disease is not common in the United States, in those who get it, symptoms develop and progress rapidly even leading to death in 24-48 hours.

Transmission: Spread by direct contact with large droplet respiratory secretions (coughing, sneezing, kissing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation). Close household contacts of persons with meningococcal disease are at greatly increased risk of infection. This disease develops and progresses rapidly.

Vaccination: There are two meningococcal vaccines available in the U.S., Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) and Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). MCV4 is the preferred vaccine for people ages 2 through 55, but MPSV4 can be used when MCV4 is not available.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention